The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1887-01-15
A LOST IDENTITY.
ny Harriet Prescott spoirord.
1857, br 8. q. Noc,ure

did he-marry Louisa Dane?"
Louisa Dane, indeed! He married q
little pale, thin woman that he met in the
cara, sick and weak, with air.cushions
and rugs and hot-water bottles; and there
waa a great accident, and this miserable
little creature who could not take care Of
herself began to take care OF everybody
elso. And hos doctor. you know. AND
it rather fetched him." said poor Aunt
Jane, unconscious Of her slang. at made
him fond OF her, and by and by-he was
10 sad sud eolitary-he went and brou ght
her homs:. He didn't undertake to bring
her here" eaid Aunt jana, cmphatically.
Ale isn't the eamo Leonard. But they
aeem happy, and, as l said, they have q
"rhe little lad" murmurod voice Of
infinite sadness. ''
And Leonard was always 80 fond OF
children. But for my part" snapped
Aunt Jane, II always think there's a good
deal OF luake-belieye that sort Of sick Der.
son-csn't button her own boots one year,
and q competent housekeeper the nexti
Yes, Leoua,d is married sgain, and very
comfortable. Where does be live ?" yuess-
ing rather than hearing tho words. "Down
town near tho poat.oGice. But he comes
up oncs a month or so to aettle accounts
and give directions. He keeps his old
ctudy hero, md be always comes In at the
end gate and goes In there and comes out
to see us by-and.by," continued the gar
rulous old eoul, for the visitor allowed her
to run on. u JILL
She was pulling herself together now.
The shock was vast. Her brain seemed
to reel, IS II abe put forth all her strength
to save herself in the fall down a black
and unknown chasm. Only now a grim
fancy crossed her Of Leonard living down
in the town, getting all the email ways OF
the townspeople, living cheaply, with
closed doors, interested in the small eos-
sip, small pleasures, small pursuits of the
town, forgetting the old studies, the search
into yelled secrets Of science, the great
name once possible, the mighty aim half
resuhed. And their life up on the hill
had been 80 free and 4ne. And It was
dust and ashes! All, why had some fire
from heaven not fallen and reduced the
place itself TO the same ashes that it's hap
pinees had lound7 For herEeif+-
She must not think Of herself yst-that
would come by and by; that would come
in tho terrible days and nights when the
black waves rose around her, and one
wave tossed to another, and blacker
storm, to be followed by as black calm,
ragged within.
She sat very still in the chair. She Was
trying to bring some order from the con-
fusion, to stop this bell that was tollipg
the one word in her ear like death.
knell. Leonard was married again, To
littls delicate woman. She made his
home agreeable to hiul-nhe bad no tenn
per, no cap1ices. no gay rout OF frlena5--
and there WAS no music. Doubtless his
dinners were always nicely cooked, his
clothes in perfect order. And he was
very comfortable; yes, vastly more com.
Portable than he had ever heen before;
there we're no discussions, no differing
views, no quarrels-he had reyerential
feeling icr Ibis good and placid, delicate
white woman-=and thsre wac the little
lad. ..a vi
{ What was there left for herself but the
eflAcement thst fate had given hsr?,
Yet il she could see him once again
Perhaps she had better not; she might be-
tray herself; 1T would be harder still. Now
she could 60 az abe came. She could make
the sacrifice. She was sure of herself.
But ehould she Geo hin eycs- r..
II declared" said Aunt Jane. "That'a
Leonard, now, coming in the gate. And
Bridget's dua.ing the study-she was late
in her sweeping to.day~ard not half
through" 377U,5,
" will 60, in, then, If you please.
know the way. came to speak with
him." said the other, and she called all
her forces snd rose. ~.
well, il you had Just as lief. My
ankles lame. and rather favor it," said
Aunt Jane looking after her, as sho CROPPED
her way rather than walked. "Just He.
lena's height, poor girl" said Aunt Jane
as the door closed, "and there was some
thing in her voice Helena's too. Didn't
know he had down town office, sup.
pose, and she does not seem weak. de.
clare don't gee how Annabel wears such
holes in her stockings and she never Set
ting her foot to the ground! 1 wonder II
it can be possible that Bridget wears them
herself the odd week" ~ ~.
This study opened from the flower.
room, empty now, but once bright little
spot Of gay chintzss, and rosee, and olsan.
ders, and palms, and cameliae. It seemed
as it Bridget WAS never coming out. ANY
ono might hear this heart beat like the
hammers Of forge. It would be dark
presently, and she must be going. Not
once did she think Of breaking Of that
marriage. If he could make it, he could
keep 1t. Perhaps he swss happier 30;
she would not add to mis- troubles by re-
appearing upon the scene, and then there
WAS the little lsd. She sank upon seat
in the. lonely place, and her arms fell
straight ecroes her knees, with her head
between them. IT was despair. The
little lad was the keenest blow Of all-he
must needs love his own child land 1t
was hers, that other womnn's. All, how
cruel WAS fate, was Nature, was God |!
There was nothing for her but obtitera-
ton, aaaosmcnt, humiliation Of all that
mado life. ,9aa s.I3a ls.sY
Dimly under oil the pang was a feeling
that Bho would like to see that little lad.
AT last Bridget went out, by the outer
study door, into the garden, and 30 away,
There was movement Of a chair drawn
70 . table, OF a curtain pushed up for
Tight. She was hardly acting with vol
ition now, but as II necessity had taken
hold Of her. She dropped hcr hood and
cloak and stole into the study, where the
last stern Night lay noiseleasly, tor
Leonard's back was turned, and fell upon
chair that would be opposite him when